Gareth axes his agent over six-figure debt
Southgate agent and the missing millions
GARETH SOUTHGATE has parted company with his long-term agent Terry Byrne following Mail Sport’s revelations that the England manager is owed a six-figure sum by his representative due to a disastrous property deal. We revealed in November that Byrne invested money owed to Southgate and former England players Joe Cole and Glenn Hoddle to help fund the purchase of a £25million building in central London without their permission.
Southgate is understood to have served notice to Byrne in January after spending over six months patiently waiting to be repaid — which the agent remains adamant he is determined to do. The split with Byrne brings a dramatic end to an eight-year working relationship which began when Southgate was managing England Under 21s.
Southgate has no plans to appoint a new agent before this summer’s European Championship, with his sole focus being winning England’s first major trophy since 1966. The FA would like Southgate to stay on until the 2026 World Cup, but the manager will not make a decision on his future until after the Euros, and only then will he consider recruiting a new agent.
Byrne, who previously managed a host of A-list stars including David Beckham and Pele, is facing the prospect of many of his companies being liquidated due to huge debts.
Mail Sport revealed that his company, Round World Group, borrowed £21m from the Topland Group to buy a six-storey building near London’s Oxford Circus last year, with Byrne using money owed to clients to help service debt without their knowledge.
Southgate and Byrne declined to comment.